The Commercial Toyota Corolla is a vehicle for the moment: it fills a niche so specific in the commercial vehicle sector that it is the only model of its kind currently on sale. If you’re looking to reduce emissions for your fleet, but can’t justify switching to electric because you need a car that can go a long way in a short time, it’s worth it. consider.
The limited payload capacity won’t suit some applications, but otherwise you’re getting a vehicle that’s as smooth, refined, and easy to use as a Toyota Corolla The Sport Tour is the product, but with a work-oriented interior that will handle the heavier usage that commercial vehicles have to endure.
About Toyota Corolla Commercial
If there is a vehicle that comes to mind when looking at it Toyota Corolla Commercial, it is Vauxhall Astronaut. Join us here, because this is not just new-for 2022 Toyota a spiritual successor to the Astra-based truck, it turns out that Astra was the inspiration behind it.
Bosses at Toyota GB, wanting to expand the Toyota Professional commercial vehicle brand’s product portfolio, saw an opportunity. The Astravan used to be a fairly common sight on UK roads, but it disappeared from the Vauxhall range in 2013, leaving the van-for-car realm behind. supermini-size model, such as Vauxhall Corsavan and Ford Fiesta SportVan. Instead, with no larger models on offer, buyers were forced to switch to minivans.
However, some companies have gone their own way with the conversion of trucks to hatchbacks, SUVs and compact asset automotive, so Toyota clearly saw a need for a truck based on pre-owned real estate. The numbers were compiled, a business proposal was made and while the previous generation Auris Touring Sports was considered for conversion, Toyota waited for the higher-spec Corolla to begin production in the UK before transforming it into a work car.
For now, the Corolla Commercial is a UK-only model – other markets are being evaluated – and it comes in a single specification. It’s based on the Touring Sports’ 120bhp 1.8 hybrid, while the spec list is similar to that of the entry-level Icon version. That means you’ll get a kit like one-touch power windows, LED headlights, dual-zone climate control, Toyota Touch 2 infotainment with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, reverse camera, and Toyota Safety Sense with adaptive cruise control and a suite of safety accessories. The only real difference is the inclusion of steel wheels with plastic trim instead of alloys.
To meet UK build and use regulations, it is not possible for any car van to be converted back into a passenger vehicle. As a result, the Corolla eliminated the folding bench seat, the doors lost the power window mechanism, and while the interior doors are present, they are purely aesthetic, as you cannot open the rear doors from the inside. It’s a similar story with the driver’s power window switch – the buttons for the rear window are present, but they don’t work and are there to fill the holes in the trim.
At least the rear interior lights still work, as they lose light with the addition of the completely opaque side windows. These comply with the law, with a thick, translucent film added to standard glass. They are finished in black, so the Corolla Commercial from the outside still looks like a Sports Travel property – it was felt that the use of body color film could give a vehicle the wrong impression. likely to leave valuables in it. However, there is still a clear glass backdoor with wash/wipe.
With an introductory financing offer of £261 per month including maintenance (with tires and brakes) for three years through Toyota’s Kinto financing scheme, the Corolla Commercial could be an attractive proposition.
A major benefit of using the Corolla platform is the efficiency of mixture transmission system. Toyota quote a WLTP the economy figure is 61.4mpg, and the Corolla Commercial favors an electric powertrain making that figure perfectly viable in everyday driving.
In fact, in the first few days of driving the Corolla Commercial, which involved driving and lots of stop/start traffic, we had high mpg numbers in the 60s, before off-road driving. The highway stretch lowers the average after covering around 500 miles has brought that down to a still impressive 59.5mpg. The CO2 figure under the WLTP cycle is 105 – 115g/km.
A fuel tank promises a range in excess of 650 miles, which will be a major draw for buyers looking to reduce their carbon footprint, but can’t justify switching to a full EV because they cover a long distance at a time.
The Corolla Commercial comes with a three-year, 60,000-mile warranty, which, however, could extend this further. After the three-year period expires, Toyota will extend the warranty by 12 months/10,000 miles each time serviced by one of its dealers, up to a 10-year 100,000-mile limit.
As it’s part of the ‘Toyota Professional’ light commercial vehicle family, you also get 5 years of roadside assistance and the guarantee that you’ll get a service appointment within 7 days. The service interval is the same as the passenger version of the Corolla, every 10,000 or annually – whichever comes first.
The most obvious change to the Corolla Commercial from the driver’s seat is the addition of a wire mesh baffle that separates the cargo area from the cabin. In some trucks – even specialty models – this type of baffle can limit how far back you can slide the driver’s seat, making it difficult for tall drivers to find a driving position. comfortable. But here are a lot of tweaks. Replacing the original fabric front floor mats are now more durable rubber items.
The empty rear has a long flat load area with a heavy duty plyboard deck covered in a sturdy rubber pad. This is bolted into place by the baffle, but the rear half is hinged, so there’s a deep spare wheel-shaped well hidden under the floor. This is useful, but while some commercial-based SUVs and other cars add extra storage where rear legroom used to be, the Corolla are difficult to reach, as they are covered. partly by the new load bed. It’s also important to note that the loading area’s hinge halves can noisily jump up and down when dealing with larger speed bumps if the rear is empty.
Total cargo capacity is 1.3 cubic meters (1,326 liters), while there is a payload capacity of 425kg. Meanwhile, the 1.8 hybrid Touring Sports has a payload capacity of 405-535kg depending on spec, although of course you run the risk of damaging the interior materials if you plan to use one of these as a means of transport. convenient to work.
The Corolla’s trunk opening is in good shape and size, and the bodywork doesn’t have the sloping roofline like some of the more stylish estate cars, so we found it easy to load bulky items. . The lip of the load bed protrudes quite far so it protects the bumper well, but some paint is still exposed, which can lead to scratches if you’re not careful.
The Corolla Commercial’s towing weight is the same as for the Touring Sports, at 750kg.
On the road, the Corolla Commercial is as simple and easy to drive as the passenger versions. It works silently when there is enough charge in the hybrid battery and the system is quiet while you are driving. Due to the nature of the continuously variable transmission (CVT) It can be noisy during strong acceleration as revs increase rapidly, though not really that often, while vans support electric drive in most cases.
In any case, the updated 1.8-litre Corolla – which we drove in prototype form – is much better addressed in this regard, with its engine and transmission response feeling much more harmonious. with throttle input. It also develops more power and torque. It’s due out in 2023 and while this is unconfirmed, we don’t see why the refreshed Touring Sports edition wouldn’t receive the same commercial treatment.
At higher speeds, there’s a slight boom in the generous cargo space, but this varies depending on how rough the road surface is. Overall, the Corolla Commercial is a more comfortable option than a pickup truck, thanks to its car-derived suspension, as well as the inherent sporty nature of Toyota’s TNGA platform.
While chassis dynamism should be very low on the average light commercial vehicle owner’s priority list, it’s worth noting that this car is happy to turn quickly, able to withstand the body roll is excessive and this is a fun thing to drive.
In the years 2022 Driver source In the survey, the passenger version of the Corolla ranked 38th out of the top 75 new cars, with a lower-than-expected reliability rating – the car ended up in 33rd place. Still, Toyota as the brand The brand – 10th out of 29 manufacturers – has one of the best reliability ratings in the survey, with just 16.2% of owners reporting problems with their cars.
Corolla Commercial has not been crash tested by Euro NCAP at the time of writing, but the organization gave the passenger Corolla a full five stars in 2019, scoring 95% in adult protection.
The commercial version has adopted all the Toyota Safety Sense features of conventional cars, including Front Collision System, adaptive cruise control, Lane Departure Warning (including adjustable steering). , Lane Tracking Assist, Automatic High Beam and Sign Assist. Seven airbags are fitted as standard.
Cabin quality is pretty decent, with fabric upholstery for the heated seats (and power-assisted lumbar support for the driver’s seat), some piano black trim on the dashboard, and even a bit of metallic trim here and there. there. Even the stiffer plastics feel like they’re built to last, while the seats are uniquely supported to make longer rides very comfortable. Once you’re satisfied with the increasing cabin noise, it’s easy to forget that you’re not just in a regular Corolla.
The instrument cluster is pretty basic, with analogue clock buttons for the rev counter and speedometer alongside a small multi-function display. However, the following section provides all the information you need and is easy to navigate. The climate controls are all physically varied – our favorite setup – located below a pair of air vents. You also get a multifunction steering wheel with the same series of buttons found on the passenger Corolla.
The infotainment system isn’t the most responsive and looks a bit dated compared to some of the competition, but again, in the event that Toyota chooses to make the upcoming Corolla Touring Sports a commercial version, this problem will be solved.
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